Tommy learns new tricks

Last week Tommy still couldn't do anything.

Then overnight he learned new tricks.

Most important of the new tricks is that he feeds himself. Sortof.

You know how capable you feel when you are given a magnetic fishing rod to catch as many magnetic fish as possible 8 feet away?

That's about how capable he is with his slobbery hands.

He sticks his arms straight out and clenches and opens his fist while he hovers over the tray covered in pieces of food. When he catches a bite, he tries to get his face to his fist without bending his elbow.

Here's what's got me confused: why is it that everything he touches must immediately enter his mouth, but when his fists are full of food his elbows are suddenly as immobile as the tin man's?

Eventually he shouts and bangs his fist on the tray which is my cue to hold out a food particle between my fingers. That's when he grabs my fist and shoves it in his mouth while simultaneously diving open-mouthed toward the food I'm holding out for him.

After a few bites he catches on and just starts picking up the pieces of food and puts them in his mouth.

Which, of course, makes everybody happy.